Ruben Amorim was sacked as Manchester United head coach on Monday and his former teammate Darren Fletcher will take caretaker charge of the club with immediate effect
Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United star, has revealed that the club’s ex-players’ WhatsApp group is buzzing with activity following the news of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.
Darren Fletcher, a former teammate of Ferdinand’s, will step in as interim manager, with his first game at the helm set against Burnley this week.
Amorim’s tenure saw United slump to their worst-ever Premier League finish and suffer defeat in the Europa League final at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite an improved performance this season, consecutive draws against Wolves and Leeds United led to Amorim’s shocking announcement in his last press conference as United’s manager.
The Portuguese coach criticised United’s top brass, and his strained relationship with Jason Wilcox became public knowledge.
On his podcast ‘Rio Ferdinand Presents’, the former Red Devils defender shared: “I’m really excited to see him, I mean the Man United [ex-players] WhatsApp group is popping off as you can imagine with congratulations and good luck messages to Fletch.”
He added: “I think he’ll be ejecting himself [from the group], or won’t be answering. Let me just check and see if he’s answered already because he ain’t been as active since he’s been the Under-18s manager.
“Let me just see. Fletch, where are you? Nope. You’ve got Youngy, Edwin van der Sar, Anders Lindergaard and myself all wishing him good luck. I think [the good luck messages] will be coming in more and more over the next couple of minutes.
“I wish him well. Darren Fletcher, he’s had some big, big moments in his career and he’s also had some turmoil in his life with his health.
“He [has] a wonderful family, he’s the right kind of person that you’d want to get a chance and I just hope he goes in there and does himself justice because this is a wonderful opportunity that anyone on this planet – especially someone who’s connected to the club – would give their right arm for, to have this opportunity. I’m sure he’ll give it all he’s got.
“One thing we will do is he’ll take counsel. He’ll lean on people. I’m sure one of his first phone calls will be Sir Alex Ferguson – followed by myself hahaha. But he will ask those questions. He’s got humility.
“If I was a betting man, I’d say he’ll do a good enough job. I want him to make it difficult for the hierarchy to make a decision on the next manager – on the next coach. Because that’s obviously the question everyone’s asking.”
Amorim departs United with a tally of merely 24 victories in 63 matches, the poorest record of any head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson departed the club.
The choice to dismiss Amorim was made by United’s senior management team, featuring Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. A United statement read: “Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United. Ruben was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May.
“With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change. This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.
“The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future. Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team against Burnley on Wednesday.”